Abstract:

This proposal addresses NASA's science objectives with innovative lidar architecture for atmospheric CO2 measurements. Specifically, the proposed work can support and potentially enhance the Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS) technologies. Using an active laser measurement technique, our system is designed to enhance the capabilities of CO2 remote sensing from high-latitude regions and nighttime observations with sensitivity in the lower atmosphere, and enable investigations of the climate-sensitive southern ocean and permafrost regions, provide insight into the diurnal cycle and plant respiration processes, and provide useful new constraints to global carbon cycle models.